Super short but INTENSE chapter. That's all I've got to say.

Also sorry for the terrible pun (bc oath no sounds like oh no ahahaha.) It just feels like something Dipper would try to pull off.

I can do this. It's just some little gnomes. It's all good.

"Dipper, are you talking to yourself?" Travis whispers. Oh, oops.

"Sorry," I reply, and we slowly creep toward Jeff, thankful for Mabel's distraction. She's talking nonstop and blocking out surrounding noise, but I don't think that's strategy, that's just Mabel being Mabel.

Luke and Annabeth continue around the clearing, and soon, the four of us are in position. I know better than to attack and wake up the rest of the gnomes, so Luke agreed to detain Jeff and stop him from alerting the rest of them. Should be any time now...

"Mabel, c'mon. Just put the ring on! It isn't that har-" Luke pops out of the bush and pins Jeff face down. He swiftly ties a gag on and the rest of us help Mabel up and we run. Luke continues to tie Jeff onto a tree, but the struggle is enough to wake up a few of the gnomes.

"Split up!" Annabeth commands, "Meet at the Welcome to Gravity Falls sign by sunrise."

I force my noodle legs to thrash aimlessly like they've never thrashed before. Soon, I'm all alone. I recognize these part of the woods, so it's actually only about a mile from the sign. I fix my hat and stretch myself out.

A rustling from the direction I came from is a bit alarming, so I pull out my knife. I haven't had to use this at any point during the quest, so whatever's coming to get me probably has the combat advantage. However, I've got the brains to reason that standing in the open is not really helpful and hide behind a tree.

Someone jumps into my sight, and I swing the knife blindly. "Whoa! Dipper, calm down!" Luke says as I open my eyes.

"Oh, sorry!" I apologize, knowing no one would be happy if I had killed him.

"I don't exactly know where we're regrouping, so could we travel together?" he asks.

I put my knife away, "Yeah, sure!"

We continue our journey through the forest. I feel a lot safer with Luke around because he's obviously got more experience with stuff like this. "Hey Luke, did you go on a lot of quests before this?" I ask.

He stops moving for a moment, then hesitantly opens his mouth. "Yeah, but I prefer not to talk about it." Oh, okay.

He shrugs it off, and we begin walking again. We've got about half a mile left before we speak again.

"So Dipper, what do you think about this horrible quest? The fool of a god, Apollo, trying to get us to do his dirty work," he mutters.

I flinch, waiting for the sun god to melt Luke into smithereens, but I guess he's got other things on his mind... like being a donkey.

"Um, it's not horrible. Annabeth seems really happy to be away from camp, and it was nice coming back to Gravity Falls, even if we almost died numerous times," I respond.

Luke scoffs, "It's just frustrating how the gods don't really appreciate us. I mean, your parent hasn't even claimed you yet!"

I catch myself before I mention she who must not be named, "Eh, I'm alright with that. As long as Mabel's happy. Not being claimed doesn't really affect me, since most of my stress is from my own self-pressure."

"Well, you seem pretty open-minded about this whole Olympian gods thing. What would you say to an offer better than that?" Luke inquires.

"Um, I don't mind this whole weirdness, but that doesn't mean I'm going to go looking for it," I answer.

Luke stops walking again. "We could bring the gods down. With the power of the Titans, the gods will crumble."

I bite my lip. "The... Titans?"

Luke turned on me. "You could see all the monsters in your little journal, and more. Join me, and we can sabotage this quest and use donkey Apollo as a distraction while the Titan Lord rises to full power."

My mind is racing. What had happened to the cool Luke just moments before?

He grabs my arm and uses a voice much, much deeper than his own. "Dipper Pines, you are worth more than what these fools have offered you. We'd appreciate your sharp mind."

At this point, I'm too sweaty to think properly. Sabotage the quest... wait... Mabel! Annabeth! Travis! Oh no oh no oh no.

"What have you done to our friends?" my voice cracks.

"I haven't killed them, don't worry. But I will if you ever let it slip that this exchange ever happened. I have orders to not kill you, for the Titan Lord knows you have potential to be the reason he rises or falls. We don't want to jeopardize that, so we'll just put on some smiles, alright? Or else your pathetic sister is the first to suffer," Luke hisses.

I can't warn them. I can't save them. And I know that even if I could convince Mabel, the other two trust Luke with their lives. I've got to finish this quest. Deal with crazy Luke once I know everyone else is safe.

I will keep Mabel, Annabeth, and Travis alive. Even if it endangers my life, I know they will eventually figure out Luke. But I owe it to them. Because if Luke hurts them in any way, it'll be on my hands.

I swear it on the River Styx. On the Time Baby. On literally every creepy supernatural thing I've ever witnessed. I will keep them safe.